The
MCCC Women’s Tennis Team is completing its practice season prior
to the NJCAA national tournament, which commences in Tucson, AZ, on
May 6. According to MCCC Head Coach Marc Vecchiolla, the women have
put in a lot of hard work since January, refining the skills that
earned them the national title in May 2005 and the Region 19 title
in the fall with a record of 7-0.

At a two-year school, where player turn-over is often the case, Vecchiolla
has retained all but one of his starting players from last year. “I’ve
never had a more experienced team,” he said. “Everyone
is playing well. We are pumped up for this tournament.”

Vecchiolla
notes that like last year, the roster is strong in all nine flights. “Regardless
of our finish at Nationals, I'll be talking about this particular team
for years,” he said. “I've been awestruck by the team's chemistry
and the players’ commitment to their games and to each other. These
women will go into the tournament focused and determined, recognizing
that at the national level the matches are always competitive."

As the dominant powerhouse in Region 19, Mercer has won the regional title
for nine consecutive years, and has won the national championship four
times. In 2005, Vecchiolla was inducted into the NJCAA Women’s Tennis
Coaches Hall of Fame. With a career record at Mercer of 66 wins and 4
losses and four national titles to his credit, Vecchiolla is responsible
for putting Mercer on the national map in women’s tennis since he
helped to revive the team in 1998 after a 12-year hiatus.